Page 251 - Photonics Essentials an introduction with experiments

Source: Photonics Essentials

Chapter
11

Experimental Photonics:
Device Characterization

in the Laboratory

Introduction

Experimental measurement is an important key to understanding
photonic devices. Although there are many kinds of devices, there are
relatively few measurements, and the laboratory exercises proposed
in this chapter will help you to understand the mathematical presen-
tations in the previous chapters, their accuracy, and their limitations.
The aim of this work is to help you acquire the basic experimental
skills you will need for further investigations.
There are four important objectives of the laboratory exercises:

1. Safety. Always maintain safe working conditions in the laboratory.
2. Technique. Develop techniques for obtaining reproducible data in
an efficient manner.
3. Record keeping. Learn to use a lab notebook as a tool to help you
and your supervisor understand what works and what does not
work in the laboratory.
4. Relationship to theory. Learn to apply judgment to evaluate the
expectations of theory.

The exercises can be started after the first week and are most effec-
tive if the laboratory work is assigned in the week following the corre-

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